Delta 4 rocket lifts off with U.S. Air Force satellite

SpaceFlightNow.com ^ | 8/29/2003 | Justin Ray

[Rockitz]

A Boeing Delta 4 rocket has lifted off from Cape Canaveral carrying the final DSCS communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Follow the rocket's climb to orbit in our mission status center.

[Rockitz]

Congratulations to Boeing and their US Air Force customer!

First burn of DCSS still underway as I post.

[bicycle thug]

We are doing better then Brazil at least;

Brazil Vows New Space Launch After Disaster

[Rockitz]

Just had SECO for the DCSS. Payload separation coming up.

[Southack]

Was this bird launched with Alabama's new rocket motor?

[RightWhale]

T+plus 42 minutes, 7 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION!

[RightWhale]

I take it that SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! is a good and desirable thing?

[RightWhale]

The Delta 4 rocket has achieved success in all three of its missions. The next flight is scheduled for next spring when the Delta 4-Heavy vehicle will take an Air Force-funded test launch.

[Rockitz]

I take it that SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! is a good and desirable thing?

Yes and BTW, it has occurred. Nominal mission from a launch vehicle perspective.

[Rockitz]

Yep. Rocketdyne's RS-68!

[Poohbah]

Ah, DSCS.

Incredibly important SATCOM asset. How else will the troops, while desperately trying to fight a war, get messages giving the status of chili cookoffs at their home base? (No, I am not making this up--my sources tell me that a couple of flag officers lost their temper when this stuff got transmitted.)

[RightWhale]

I note that the event is called payload separation until it happens and then it is called spacecraft separation afterwards. This is probably a tradition amongst rocketmen reflecting a change in status of the item from dependency to autonomy. Like sending the youngest child off to college.

[Rain-maker]

 

 

General Characteristics
Primary Function	High capacity military communications satellite
Primary Contractor	Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company - Sunnyvale Operations
Dry Weight	Approx. 2,000 lbs
Orbit Altitude	22,300 miles altitude
Payload	Ten 50-watt X-band Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers
Antennas	Wideband multibeam and two earth coverage receive antennas;  two transmit multibeam, gimbaled dish, and two earth coverage antennas
Capability	Up to 200 Mbps
Unit Cost	Approx. $200 million
Survivability	Nuclear tested
Launch Vehicle	Boeing Delta IV Medium EELV
Constellation	Five primary, five residual satellites

[mugsaway]

That may be true but that is not the ONLY thing we satcom techs do...I say this while sitting on a mid watch supporting the launch in my AN/GSC-39b terminal.

[mugsaway]

AND...more than likely that stuff was tx'd over the TCCC teletype and NOT over the orderwire or mission critical links...

[Poohbah]

Hey, y'all just run whatever traffic's being sent. The problem is the unit commanders who ignore things like MINIMIZE and such...

[Poohbah]

AND...more than likely that stuff was tx'd over the TCCC teletype and NOT over the orderwire or mission critical links...

Actually, it went over the Fleet Broadcast AND orderwire.

[mugsaway]

True...most times I don't know nor care what is going over my link as long as it's up and running. You have comm background? Ever been Satcom...

[mugsaway]

Well then THAT's not good...but then your talking Navy and I'm sitting in an AF terminal.

[Poohbah]

Comm background only as an end customer, and the guy usually appointed to do message screening during MINIMIZE. (Most famous quote from me: "Who's the dumb**** who think's this needs to go out electronically?" Answer: "The CO." Me: "OK, I'll just INFO the theater commander's COMMO, see what he thinks...")

[mugsaway]

Good answer...Also you might point out that DOC (Satellite controllers) and DOT might frown upon the mis-use as well.